Merlin Rohl has said he really likes playing at right-back after returning to the position for Everton's 2-0 defeat at Premier League champions Arsenal on Saturday.
The Potsdam-born player joined the Blues on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy provided they avoided relegation from Freiburg on September 1, 2025, deadline day of the summer transfer window. At the time, Rohl was considered to be a central midfield player but since the turn of the calendar year, manager David Moyes has been deploying him down the right-hand side of the pitch as both a winger and a full-back.
Return to right-back role
The 24-year-old impressed as a right-back throughout pre-season and he started the first three matches this term in the role before getting injured.
After that, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the right-back specialist Moyes had been waiting almost 20 months to bring in, took Rohl's place but after the German returned to the side on the right wing against Chelsea, he reverted to right-back against the Gunners as Maitland-Niles missed out on an emotional return against the club where he spent 20 years before his move to Olympique Lyonnais in 2023.
Rohl on the position
Rohl said: "I like it as a right-back. I try to give my best.
"I think there's potential in that position for me. I had one or two good runs at Arsenal where I couldn't get the cross how I wanted but I tried everything to get my positioning defensively.
"There were one or two actions where you get beat by these world-class players but that's something I try to improve and to win every duel of course. I really like the position, and tried to give everything for the team, and I think there's something that I can give to the team in this position."
In terms of the differences from playing in the centre of the park, he added: "I think you could see me running deep much more. Sometimes when the winger is not looking closely, I can go in behind.
"You always need to be aware defensively. That's the thing you need to balance out a little bit.
"Of course, the ball situations you get are completely different. You always have the line next to you, and you need to think a little bit differently about how to get forward.
"But that's something I really enjoy improving and hopefully get in the next games and we win the next games. I think this is hugely important for us and me."
